Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and
credit transfer are the most common ways for training providers to assess whether your skills and experience or past study can count towards a new course.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is when a training provider formally recognises your previous experience, such as work experience, informal training or volunteering, and counts this towards a qualification.

RPL is based on the relevance of the experience or training to the qualification you want to do.

RPL can help you get into a course and/or reduce the number of units you'll need to do to get a qualification.

RPL takes into account:

work-related training courses

on-the-job skills and work experience

volunteer and community work.

How to apply for RPL

You need to apply to the training provider for RPL.

There is usually a fee, and you'll need to provide evidence to support your application. This may include documents such as a report or a portfolio of work samples, or evidence of assessment activities, such as work observations or interviews.

Before you apply, it's worth contacting your training provider to find out if there is a fee (it can vary) and what evidence you'll need to provide.

Credit transfer

Credit transfer is when a training provider counts a completed qualification, units of a qualification or other formal learning, towards another qualification.

This credit is based on the relevance of the qualification, unit or learning to the course you want to do.

Credit transfer can help you get into a course and/or reduce the number of units you'll need to do to get the qualification.

How to apply for a credit transfer

You need to apply to the training provider for a credit transfer.

There is no fee, but you'll need to provide evidence to support your application, for example, a statement of attainment.

International qualifications

If you got your qualification outside Australia and are living permanently in Victoria, you can apply to the Victorian Government
Overseas Qualifications Unit for a free and confidential assessment to have your qualification nationally recognised.

If you got your skills in a trade overseas, an approved registered training organisation (RTO) can assess your qualification.